Knife holder for microtomes



April -l3, 1948. on 2,439,671

KNIFE HOLDER FOR MICROTOMES Original Filed Feb. 16, 1944 (Zffornezgs Patented Apr. 13, 1948 2,439,671 1 Innis-E HoIJnER FOR MICROTQMES HarveyN; Ott, Buffalo, N; Original applicationFebruary 1 6, 1944, Serial No.

522,608. Divided and this application .Novemher 1, 1944, Serial No. 561,412

Claims. (Cl. 88-40) 1 i This invention relates to knife supports or holders for microtomes. This is a division of my copending application for patent Ser. No. 522,-

608, filed February 16, 1944.

One of the objects of thisinvention is toprovide amicrotome with means of improvedeonstruction for mounting the knife inits opera tive position. Another object is to provide a microtome with a knife holder by means of which the position of the knife with reference to the object can readily be adjusted as desired. It is also an object to provide a knife holder which is more adjustable'and'which will support the knife more rigidly than heretofore.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will appear from the following description and claims:

'In the accompanying drawings, which illustrate by way of example one embodiment of this invention:

Fig. l is aside elevation of a microtome having a knife holder embodying this invention mounted thereon.

- Fig. Zis a fragmentary end elevation thereof. Fig. 3 is a fragmentarytop plan view thereof. Fig. 4 is a sectional elevation thereof, on line 4-4, Fig.3, l

Fig. 5 is a sectional plan view thereof, on line 55, Fig. 4. X

The knife holder shown in the accompanying drawings may be used on any suitable or desired type of microtome, regardless of whether the knife reciprocates to cut sections from the object or whether the object reciprocates relatively to the knife. In the particular construction shown, the

knife holder is'applied to a microtome of the type in which the object reciprocates relatively to the knife and the knife is advanced toward the object through distances equivalent to the thickness of the section to be cut. The microtome shown includes a housing on which the various parts of the microtome are mounted and which includes a base 9, from which side walls H) extend upwardly, and a cover or lid H cooperates with the base and side walls in enclosing and protecting the mechanism of the microtome, which mechanism is not herein shown. 12 represents an object holder which may be reciprocat'ed vertically by means of suitable mechanism actuated by means of a drive wheel [4. The base of the microtome extends beyond the housing at the front of the microtome and I5 represents a knife carriage which is mounted on the base 9. This carriage is actuated by suitable mechanism (not shown) for moving the knife 25 mounted thereon toward and from the object holder [2,

the movement of the knife toward the object holder being preferably effected by mechanism actuated by the turning of adriving wheel [4.

The knife 25 may beof any usual kind and the endportions thereof are rigidly clamped by means of aknife holder embodying this invention, and which isrnounted on the outer end of theknife carriage 15. The middle portion of the knife is used for cutting specimens from the object.

*The knife holder includes a base 21 suitably mounted onthe outer portion of the knife carriage' Sand this knife holder is provided at opposite sides thereof with upwardly extending projections 18- each having itsuppe d s t t p vide upwardlyextendingipivot lugs 29, threebemg, shownfin the construction illustrated, see particularlyFigsA'and '5. A pair of knife clamps 311 and 321s provided for'each upward extension 28 and :each clamp is' provided with a pair of integral bearing lugs which extend between the lugs 29, andthe lugjsj Of the clamp are pivotally mounted on the-lugs 29, for example, by means The two knife clamps of each pair are in the form ofllever s, one armofeach of which is providedflwithaknife engaging faceadaptedto engage a side of the knife. Theknife clamp 30 has an arm 35 provided with a threaded hole in which a clamping screw 36 may engage, the end of the screw engaging or abutting against the upper projection 28 of the base of the knife holder. The knife clamp 32 has an arm 31 which is engaged by the end of a screw 38 extending through a. threaded hole in the projection 28 of the base. It will, consequently, be seen that by means of this construction, the knife 25 may be securely clamped by tightening the screws 36 and 38. Also the angular position of the knife may be varied asmay be desired, by manipulating the screws 36 and 38. For example, if in Fig. 4, it is decided to arrange the knife 25 in a more nearly vertical position, this can be accomplished by releasing the screws 36 and then tightening the screws 38 of the two sets of knife clamps. The knife holding means described, consequently,

serves the two-fold purpose of clamping the knife faces of the knife clamps and the corresponding faces of the knife. For example, in the construcif desired.

The knife holder may be adjustably-mounted on the knife carriage in any suitable cradesired manner and in the construction illustrated by way of example, the knifecarriageds -provided with a longitudinally extending-mrfdercut-or T- slot in which a nut 42 is slidably arranged,'see particularly Figs. 2, 3 and and a 'bolt 4- extends through a hole in the base 21 of the knife holder andrengagesthe nut 42.50 that theknifeihqlder may be clamped in fdiiferejnt desired -i'zel ations 1 to the knifecarriage l 5;

"I 'claim. as 'mylinvention: 7 1. A knife holderlifon amicrotomelincluding a base i having a pair eof "knife supporting .llevers i mountedthereon= toswingabmtahornmonzpivot,

eaeh of =saidllevers.havin'g1 an arm formedito engage one 'facelof lthel khifev and anotheriarm,

and adjustable means reacting. against. the other Varmvof each lever. and againstisaid haser'for movin SaidI-leverslinto andloiiteof' engagement vwith the opposite. faces of the: knife and for; swinging said levers jtah'out their L pivots 'lpd sitien =;a1a i 'i ifi t ng' e 391 $f =t?$i L2. Avvknifei holderlfqr.amitotonieinelnding "a. base having a pair '..of fknife lsupnorting Llevers mounted thereonto wingaho ftat ommonspw t, each of said levers having an armlformedtotengage one face c'ifvithe iknife iaiid rnotherlarm,

a pairofscrews cooperatingwith saidothenarms of. said" levers ,and said" base, .wherbylthej levers may bessw n'g 7 about their' ipivotsl into engage ment with opposite'faces of'theiknifetandialso swung about said,piuotsvto support.saidrknife in "diiferentiangiilar relationstosaid .hase.

*3. A; knife holder "forsaginicrotome, includingea base i having upwardly" extending. spaced lugs a 4 pair of knife supporting levers having lugs intermediate of the ends thereof extending into alignment with said spaced lugs, a pivot pin connecting the lugs of said base and said levers to pivot said levers on said base, said levers having arms formed to engage the opposite faces of a knife, and screws reacting on said levers and said base ifor moving saidrleversiintmdiiferentmngular reilations to :"said base and, into rtclamping ;-engagement with said knife. I v

4. A knife holder for a microtome including a base having apair Of knife supporting members 'mounted thereon for movement into engagement with ol posite sides of the knife and having faces formed to engage with the opposite sides of the V "knife, at iileast one of said members having 1aportionthereof-adjacent to said knife supportingfaceundercut'to form a resilient knife ena in fa 5. A knife holder forra microtome including a. base havingawpair .of knife supportingmembers inounted. thereon for movementlintoiengagement with qpposite sides -of the kniferandhavinglaces formed to engage with I the. opposite sidesiof the knife, at least .one rof ,said menfihersfihaving anoperrended slot.tthereinssubstantially, parallel with Qthe= knife engaging ,Iface .thereof toiformta ,res'ilientiknife engaging face. a

rHARYEYsNLQTT.

FBEFERIENGES PQIITED The following references. are oft reeordi-in the file of this patent:

UNITEDiS'I A'I'ES P-QTENIS Number "Name Date 1,-026,280 O tt -v A;May .14, .1912 1197,54 1 IRediske Sepia-, r1916 534,665 Savage Apr.g2 1,;i925 1,7,6 5 ,283 ,Battersoniet cal. .4 June 47,1930 41,865 5 .-P, uli/ 5, 19 998,428 'Huettner Apr. 1 1935 2,078, 1 Ho d AD 0,:J; 3

:EOREIGNL-BATENTS Number Country Date "165,974 .Great Britain J1l1yll4,..i921 

